Device and method for fragrancing an inner space of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle system includes a container adapted to hold a fluid fragrance substance, a pump connected to the container, a capillary pipe connected to the pump and sized to retain the fluid fragrance substance within the capillary pipe when the pump is off, and an evaporation grid connected to the capillary pipe. The evaporation grid may have open porosity and be at least partially positioned within a vehicle ventilation channel to selectively provide fragrance to the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device providing fragrance to an inner space of a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a tank configured to hold a fragrance substance;   a pump connected to the tank and configured to introduce the fragrance substance into a ventilation or heating channel of the inner space; and   a capillary body disposed between the pump and the interior of the ventilation or heating channel, the capillary body acting as an odor trap.   
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the capillary body is configured to be at least partially heated by an electric current flowing through at least a portion of the capillary body. 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , the capillary body including a capillary compound comprising:
 a capillary pipe; and   a planar evaporation element having open porosity and positioned to be acted on by air flow within the ventilation or heating channel of the inner space.   
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 3 , the evaporation element comprising an electrical heating element. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , the evaporation element comprising a grid. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , the evaporation element comprising a honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , the capillary body being positioned higher than the tank and having an opening sized to retain the fragrance substance within the capillary body against gravitational flow to the tank when the pump is switched off. 
     
     
         8 . A method for providing fragrance to an inner space of a motor vehicle using a fragrance substance, comprising:
 pumping, in response to a request for providing fragrance to the inner space of the motor vehicle, the fragrance substance from a tank through a capillary body positioned at least partially within a ventilation channel of the motor vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising heating at least a portion of the capillary body by applying a voltage or current to the capillary body in response to the request. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising heating the capillary body in response to the request. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising positioning the capillary body higher than the tank. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , the capillary body positioned higher than the tank and including an opening configured to retain the fragrance substance within the capillary body against gravity when the pumping stops. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , the capillary body comprising:
 a capillary pipe connected to the pump and having an opening configured to retain the fragrance substance within the capillary pipe against gravity when the pumping stops; and   an evaporation element connected to the capillary pipe and positioned at least partially within the ventilation channel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pumping comprises pumping the fragrance substance through a capillary pipe of the capillary body and into a planar evaporation element of the capillary body. 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle system comprising:
 a container adapted to hold a fluid fragrance substance;   a pump connected to the container;   a capillary pipe connected to the pump and sized to retain the fluid fragrance substance within the capillary pipe when the pump is off; and   an evaporation grid connected to the capillary pipe, having open porosity, and at least partially positioned within a vehicle ventilation channel to selectively provide fragrance to the vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle system of  claim 15 , the evaporation grid comprising a honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle system of  claim 15 , the evaporation grid configured to heat the fluid fragrance substance in response to an applied voltage. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle system of  claim 15 , the capillary pipe having an opening connecting to the evaporation grid and positioned higher than the container. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle system of  claim 15 , the evaporation grid comprising a planar grid. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle system of  claim 19 , the planar grid comprising a honeycomb structure.